1996-All-Metro boys lacrosse teams

June 01, 1996|By Lem Satterfield

Player of the Year

Dan Marohl, St. Mary's, senior, attack: Only one other player in the history of St. Mary's lacrosse has scored more points in a season than the 79 scored by Marohl (43 goals and 36 assists). His spectacular play led the Saints to their greatest season ever, a 17-0 record and the MIAA A Conference championship. Marohl's point total is surpassed only by Brian Wood, The Sun's Anne Arundel Player of the Decade for the 1980s. Wood scored 81 points in 1981 and 87 points in '82 to finish with Anne Arundel County career records of 154 goals and 148 assists for 302

points. "Dan is second only to Brian Wood, which is saying something, and he is one of the most intelligent and unselfish players we've ever had," said coach Jim Moorhead. "Danny could have scored more goals, but he is a tremendous feeder and should be a great player in college." An example of Marohl's passing skills came in the 13-10 MIAA A Conference final win over St. Paul's when Marohl had a goal and three of four assists to give the Saints a 3-0 lead. Marohl, who rarely loses the ball because of his impeccable stick control with both hands, won the prestigious C. Markland Kelly Award that goes to the top player in the A Conference. Don Zimmerman, the former Johns Hopkins coach who's now the coach at UMBC, recruited Marohl. Marohl's older brother played for Zimmerman's Retrievers, who use basically the same offensive system as Moorhead and the Saints.

Coach of the Year

Jim Moorhead, St. Mary's: Moorhead guided the Saints to the greatest season in 46 years of lacrosse at the small (560 students) Annapolis school. "No question it was the best team ever at St. Mary's, a once-in-a-lifetime team," said the Anne Arundel County Coach of the Year, who is quick to give credit to assistants Mike Codd (offense), Rob White (defense) and Jamie McNealy (goalkeepers). The 17-0 Saints were only the third undefeated team in A Conference history -- St. Paul's in 1992 and Calvert Hall in 1972 were the others. It was St. Mary's league-leading fourth title-game appearance of the decade, and the Saints' second crown of the 1990s. The Saints trailed twice this year -- 1-0 in a 14-2 rout of Fallston and 2-0 in a 10-9 decision over Calvert Hall. They were tied at 3-3 in an eventual 5-3 decision over Boys' Latin. "It was rare in that we coaches were not disappointed in any kid on the team," said Moorhead, who is 194-67 for his career (.743 winning percentage over 17 seasons). "Every kid played to his maximum ability. They definitely wanted to go undefeated."

The first team

Gerry Case, Broadneck, senior, attack: One of three repeaters on Anne Arundel County's first team, Case led the Bruins (19-1, school record) to their third state title in five years with 64 goals and 14 assists. The 64 goals set a school season record, and Case finished with the school career record for goals with 123. Case scored five of his goals, including the game-winner in the second overtime, in the 10-9 3A-4A state title victory over Mount Hebron. Case is bound for Loyola College, where Broadneck coach Clay White says Case has "unlimited potential, and the turf at Loyola is just right for him."

Jon Cline, St. Mary's, senior, defense: Another high school All-American and All-Anne Arundel County first-team repeater, the 6-foot-3, 215-pound Cline often intimidated foes with his forceful takeaways. "Jon was one of the main reasons we were only behind in a game just twice this season," said Moorhead. "His physical presence and play meant a lot to our success." Cline is expected to prep a year at Bridgeton (Mass.) Academy and move onto a major Division I school.

Buggs Combs, St. Paul's, senior, attack: With a league-high 52 goals to go with 15 assists, Combs, who is headed for Maryland, "was the spirit of our team and a tremen dous finisher," said second-year coach Rick Brocato. He had seven goals and an assist in a regular-season win over Loyola and scored the overtime game-winner against McDonogh. Combs' 64 ground balls led Crusaders attackmen.

Casey Connor, Calvert Hall, senior, defense: fense: Connor, who had 56 ground balls and 58 takeaways, shut down some of the league's better players. All-Americans Dan Marohl (St. Mary's), the C. Markland Kelly Award winner, and Josh Sims (Severn) scored a goal each against Connor. In one of three games played against Connor, Ian Shure (Boys' Latin) was held to no goals and no assists. His efforts nearly led to what would have been the league's biggest upset in a 10-9 loss to St. Mary's. A "B" student with a 1,200 score on the SAT, Connor is headed for Maryland.